Information AboutPejorative |
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A word or phrase is pejorative (frequently misspelled ''perjorative'') if it implies contempt or disapproval. The adjective ''pejorative'' is synonymous with '''''derogatory''''' and '''''dyslogistic''''' (noun: '''dyslogism''') ('', the latter term may be applied to a look or Gesture as well as to spoken language— in the evocative language of Gesture , it may not be easy to distinguish a disparaging gesture from a dismissive or merely Skeptical one, however. Pejorative expressions that are not Dyslogisms may also be used in a non-pejorative way, however, and determining the intent of the speaker is problematic— as with any implied meaning. Conversely, a common rhetorical ploy is to apply "pejorative" to a factual descriptor— as "toxic" might be applied to poison— and then decry it as "pejorative" to suit the agenda of those defending the substance as harmless. Not every breath of criticism is pejorative. Sometimes a term may begin as a pejorative word and eventually be adopted in a non-pejorative sense. This happened with the terms '''' are only considered pejorative if used by a non-member of the group. British English also incorporates many British Regional Slurs . Conversely, a neutral (non-pejorative) term may grow to become pejorative: the term ''. Both of these are considered pejorative with the term " Physically Challenged " as the current euphemism. This same progression, from neutral to pejorative, may be happening with the words ''challenged'' and ''special'', used in the same sense, today. Language writer Steven Pinker has called this process "the Euphemism Treadmill ." Since meanings change over time, an up-to-date dictionary should be consulted for information on specific words. Etymology Unrelated to '' entry about this misspelling. See also
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